Package for bottles



' June 18, 1935. c ELLSWORTH 2,005,026

PACKAGE FOR BOTTLES Filed Sept. 11, 1933 K 22, z /3 o K INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES aooaoz 'e" PACKAGE FORWBOTTLES Charles Ellsworth, Detroit, Mich-v '1 Application September 111, 1933, statement 9 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel box adapted tocontain a number of bottles in a neat package. The box is made of suitable stifi material such as heavy paper or cardboard corrugated on one orboth faces and having heat insulating properties. 1 p

The principalobject of the invention is to form a container from a blankof stock in a single die cut operation and with practically no waste of material. Further, it is desired to hold the bottles against rattling and to provide insulation between the bottles. These several objects are accomplished according to the. invention by. a novel; arrangementin the scoring, cutting and folding of theblank.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank, showing theinner face thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the body of the box, showing also the arrangement of bottles therein;

Figure 3 is a' section on the line 3--3 of Fig-i ure.2;'. 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of, the box in inverted position to show the construction of one of the sides; a Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is an'end view of the box, showing the position of the flaps just before insertion.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The box. is made of .a rectangular blank of material having suitable stiffness, such'asheavy paper or. cardboard which is preferably corrugated on. the outer surface, although both faces may be flat if desired. The blank is designated generallyby the numeral I, and the corners at one" end are knocked out as indicated by the numeral 2, for apurpose which will presently be described. I

A single die cut operation performs the various operations which will now be described including also the knocking out of thecorners 2. The blank is scored lengthwise along two lines 3 near the longitudinal edges and again along-lines 4 between said edges and the line 3. The blank is also scored transversely On two lines 5 substantially T midway .between the ends,. along a transverse line 6 joining the transverse edges of the knocked-out portions 2, and finally-along a transverse? linexl spaced-inwardly from the line PATENT OFFICE 6 a distance approximately equal to'the spacing between the lines 5. v

Parts of the lines 3 togetherwith one of the free edges .8 of the blank andone of the" lines 5 form. a rectangle 9 which constitutes the top of the box. Similarly, parts of the lines 3 together with parts ofthe line I and oneof .the lines 5 form a rectangle H! which constitutes the bot-. tom of the box. The blank is also cut, through along parts of the scored lines. The out. parts are illustrated by solid lines, and the parts remaining scored are shown by broken lines. The blank lSZCllt in continuation of the lines 5 and I from the lines 3 outwardly tothe adjacent edges, as

indicated by the numeral II, forming tongues l2 and I3 respectively. The rectangular piece l4 enclosed by parts of lines .5 and 3, and thefsimie lar rectangular piece l5 enclosed by parts of. lines 6;"! and 3 form the end walls. The rectangular pieces l6 formed each by parts of line. 3 and4, the cuts II and free edge 8,constitute side covers carried by the top 9. The marginal pieces l'l' outward of the parts l6 and defined each by apart of a line 4, cut ll, edge-8, and the' longitudinal edges of the blank constitute flaps. to be tucked into the body of the package to hold the covers closed, as will presently be' described.

. Between the line I and-the nearer line 5, spaced cuts l8 are formed in each line 4. The cuts are preferably equal in length to the spacing therebetween,.and the cuts on one of the lines 4 are preferably staggered with'relation to thoseron' theother line 4 as may clearly be seen in Figure 1, Finally,,a cut [9 is taken from one end of .each cut l8 perpendicularly to the nearerlongitudinal edge. The tabsZD thus formed obviously remain united to the, blankalong the uncut parts of the lines ,A hole 2| of suflicient size to receive the neck of the bottle is cut in each tab 20 with its center on the normal to, the line of union of the tab. Also, the outer, corners ofthe flaps I! are preferably knocked off as indicated by the numeral 22. The bottom section III is punched at 28 at the midpoints of the lines 3 thereon, for'e. purpose to be described below. i

. With' referencetothe assembly of the boxyit willbe evident thatthe blank can readilybefolded alongthescored lines. The particular order of folding is optional, and the sequence presently to be described is merely illustrative. The blank is first'folded inwardly. on lines 3 at the bottom' I0 to-bring vthemarginal parts into contact with thebottor'n; These marginal parts are then'fold- .ed'back along'lines 4 to bring the tabs into a vertical position. The strips 23 between lines 3 and 4 and coextensive with the bottom remain in contact with the bottom as shown in Figure 5.

The tabs 20 are of various lengths, some being extended from one end of the line of union, some from both ends and some from neither end. These extended or overhanging parts are turned inwardly as indicated by the numeral 24 in Figure 2. The arrangement of the overhanging parts 24 with respect to the several tabs isalso optional and is governed somewhat by the number of bottles to be accommodated in the package. It will also be evident from Figure 2 that the necks of bottles 25 can be inserted in the holes 2|, the

bottles lying on the bottom l0 and bei'ng' arranged in successively inverted positions. After the overhanging parts 24 of tabs are turned inward as illustrated, there is no :obstructionito the insertion of a bottle across an edge of. the box and into ahole 2|. The blank- .-is".then folded'inward successively on the lines 1 and 6 whereby the piece l5 assumes a verticalpo'sition and becomes. an end .wall as shown, in Figuren3. The piece. between the line 6 and the adjacent freeedgebecomes an end flaplying horizontally over one of the end bottles asalso shown in Figure 3. The square pieces 21 defined, by the lines 3 atthe ends, ofthe flap 26 are turned downward in opposition to the ends .of.

one of the. end bottles as'shown in Figures 2, and 5. P'Ih'is condition is also shown in. Figure 4 wherein the box is-inverted for better illustra tion. The tongues I3 at the endstof the end wall l5 are "also turned inwardlyoutside of the pieces 21.

r The blank is then folded successively on the lines 5 so that the strip 14 assumes a verticalposition as an end wall. The tongues l2 at the :ends of the wall I4 are turned inward alongside the edges'of the bottom [0. When a right-angle bend has beenmade on each line 5, the top 9 .l'ies'over the bottles as in Figure 6;- the outer edge 8 of the top piece overlapping theiflaps26. Folds are taken on the'lines 3 and 4, alongside the top 9, bringing the strips 16 into position as side covers at the ends of the bottles and leaving marginal flaps i-1 which are conveniently tucked. into the package in surface contact with the overlaid strips 23 and beneath the tongues-l2,.l3 and 2|. I The corrugations of the part' I1 interlock with the corrugations 0f part 23, thereby increasing the rigidity of the box, against 'wobbling, fora giventhickness of material. Also, the corrugations provide an increased area-of friction .contact between' each flap lT-and part 23.

The holes 28 form 'se'mi-circularthumb open-'- ings along "the edges of the bottom section to facilitate-engaging the-flaps H to pull them out in opening the box. Further, these holes facilita'te' handling the packages in removing them in- =dividua'lly from a case consisting of a vnumber'oif packagesa-- s ltwill now-be seen that the box is made from a simple rectangular blank of stock in a single die-cut operation and with practically nowa'ste of material. In this 'connection,particular reference is made to the tabs 20. Although only the square parts'thereof having'the holes 2I' a'ppearltoibe necessary for positioning the bottles, .the' overhangingparts fl nevertheless serve a very "useful purpose as insulation 'iandpadding ibetwe'en bottles. ;Asshown'in'Figure -2, the parts -24f",ar,e so inserted between bottles as :to prevent clattering byycontact of glass to iglass, andw'the insulating property of the material retards the rate of temperature change.

The filled botles may be inserted in the box before the sale to the retailer, and in the preferred use of the box, the wholesaler or distributor ships the merchandise inthe form of cases consisting each of several filled boxes superimposed one upon the other. Several advantages result from this method. First, the probability of breakage in transit is materially reduced. Secand. the retailer finds it convenient to unpack the shipment and put it away in his storage room or refrigerator since he handles the merchandise in the form of packages containing a salable number'ofbottle's, such as three, six or twelve. Finally, the speed ofmaking a sale of such a number of bottles tdconsumer is increased, as the retailer need onlytake a package from this refrigerator and hand it to the customer. Even wrapping is not necessary inasmuch as the exterior of the box may be attractively finished. T' 1 x The: customer. places the package, with one'end open,i ina. refrigerated compartment. The box itself furnishes sufhcient insulation to maintainthe contents in a chilled condition until thecustomer arrives at his destination where he'either consumes the-contents forthwith or places the package in the refrigerator." The possession of the empty box encouragesreturn of the empty bottles which can conveniently be replaced and carried in the box.

"Although specific embodiment's'of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be un, derstood thatvarious alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims. I 1

Having thus fully disclosed. my invention, what I claim and. desire to'secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A box comprising a blank of material having marginal portions :at .opposlte edges of the "blank standing perpendicular to the original plane :of the blank, said portions being aperturedtoreceive bottle necks-the apertures in one of' said apertured to receivebottle necks, certain of said portions being folded toward the opposite margin at apright-angle :and on anaxisipe'rpendicular to said original plane, parts of said blank being formed to'enclose -said marginal portions;

3. ,A box comprising a substantially rectangular blank :foldable transversely-to form atop and bottom with anendwall therebetween, sidewalls at the edges, of said top extending from the :end wall, overlaid sections atopposite edges of :the bottom in line with the side walls and doubled over to lie upon, said bottom, tabs formed at the outer edges of said sections and standing R TDenglicular to said bottom, said tabs being apertured to receive bottle necks, another 'end'wall formed at'the remaining end of the bottom, tonguesat the endsbf'sa'idendwalls and extending alongside'of said overlaid sections, and flaps at the edges of the sidewalls and adapted for'in'sertion-betweensaid sections and tongue respectively. 4. A boxas chara'cterized in claim 3, the overlaidsections being 0f the same width a'sthe side walls, :and :the tongues being-of the samewidth asisaidatabsr J .5. :A fibox i'as .acharact'erized in-rclaim' 3; said tabs being severed from said overlaid sections except directly below said apertures, the severed parts being folded inwardly toward the opposite edge of the bottom, whereby tolie between adjacent bottles.

6. A box as characterized in claim 3, said tabs being severed from said overlaid sections except directly below said apertures, the severed parts being folded inwardly toward the opposite edge of the bottom, whereby to lie between adjacent bottles, the apertured parts along one edge being staggered in relation to those at the other edge.

7. A box as characterized in claim 3, having another flap extending from the last-named end wall and adapted to lie beneath the free end of said top. 8. A box as characterized in claim 3, the overlaid sections being of the same width as the side walls, and the tongues being of the same width as said tabs, and another flap extending from the last-named end wall and adapted to lie beneath the free end of said top.

9. A box as characterized in claim 3, the outer surfaces of said blank and parts formed therefrom being corrugated. 1

CHARLES K. ELLSWORTH. 

